Nahuala Huipil #10A

Product Description

This post-1980 woman's huipil was hand-woven on a backstrap loom. The foundation fabric is very fine white cotton. The finely-brocaded geometric designs were added during the weaving process using the technique of supplemental-weft brocading. All brocading is of cotton and artificial silk. The huipil consists of three panels, seemed at the edges to form the garment. All six of the lower panel edges are very nicely selvage-finished. The original adornment around the head- and arm-holes is retained. The stitching under the arm-holes is still present, so that the garment can be used as originally intended. Most huipiles from this very traditional Maya village are of two panels; only the cofradia huipiles are 3 panels wide.

Measurements: 32 inches wide and 30-31 inches shoulder to hem. Cofradia huipiles are often of larger size since they may be worn over another garment.

Condition: Excellent, showing some light use, some very slight soil is possible, some few loose threads. Both sides are pictured, even though the brocaded designs and overall layout are only slightly different. There is some moderate running in the color from the red threads. The women of Nahuala do not find this objectionable, and actually seem to admire this trait, since the color runs emulate what happens to old silk threads when washed. This is a very finely woven example, a very special offering of a traditional type garment which is becoming increasingly scarce as fewer young women are interested in doing the tedious hand-weaving.